Thursday, May 22, 2014

We have exciting news here in our home for us and for Whirly Dog Supplies. We have found a beautiful home just outside of the big city of Portland Oregon. It is secluded in the beautiful Columbia Gorge and has 1200 square feet on the main floor and another level (also, 1200 square feet) that will make for a great studio, to bring our customers new and exciting products. We made an offer on the house and it was accepted and now we are going through the whole home buying process. We are getting close to beginning the transition to our new home, of course nothing is guaranteed, and we are hoping all goes well. One of our main concerns in moving is the transition for Whirly, our little rescue dog. We want to make this a smooth and easy transition for him, with the least amount of stress because he his life has been full of pain and uncertainty.

Whirly has been through a rough life. He was used as a breeding dog at a puppy mill for the first 9 years of his life, then he became neglected and malnourished and with the abuse, the Oregon Humane Society had to come and take him along with dozens of other dogs from the owner/operator of the puppy mill. When he was rescued by the Humane Society, he was adopted but only kept for a few months by the family and brought back to the shelter. The moment I saw him in the animal shelter, I fell in love with him, and he has been with us the past three years. He is finally settled and is comfortable (for the most part) in his home. Living in the city, there are many distractions, noises, and things that stress Whirly - The new home is in a rural area that will allow him to relax and enjoy life without the "hustle and bustle" of the big city. We are taking measures to insure a smooth transition to his new environment. Below I have listed the three main moving events and explained, what I feel, is the best way to transition your dog to a new home. I am not an expert on animal behavior nor do I claim to be, but I am giving you advice from what I have learned with other pets and what worked for me, in the past. I hope it helps.

Packing and Preparing to MoveIf possible, try to prepare and pack over a long period of time (at least a few weeks to a month). Many dogs are easily stressed or upset when new things come into their home or environment, such as lots of big boxes. It is an easier transition for the pet to slowly bring boxes in a few at a time. If you have the luxury of time on your side, only pack a few boxes per day. Be as organized as possible, have boxes labeled and sitting in a location that is out of the way and not drastically changing the landscape of the rooms in your home. Finally, don't change your dog's routines... keep the same walking, cuddle, and feeding times. It's so important to stay focused and not make drastic moves all at once. Not only is it easier on the dog, but it's less stressful for you as well!

Moving DayThe most important thing to remember, is you are going to be BUSY trying to organize, keep track of people and things. This is one of the biggest days of you, your family, and your pet's lives! Make it as easy as possible. The best thing I have found is to have a family member or trusted friend pet-sit your dog on the day of the move, which may be difficult if you are using everyone to help you. If you can't leave your pet with someone on this big day, I would suggest keeping them in a familiar room while people are moving boxes and furniture in and out. For your and your pet's safety, it's best not to have them "under foot". My dogs have always had their own bed in with me in my bedroom, so when I am moving, I leave them in the bedroom with their bed, a couple toys, and their favorite snuggle blanket or object of affection. Keep your pet comfortable, and out of harms way.

Settling into Your New HomeGetting used to your new home is always an adjustment for your pet, and YOU as well! The most important thing to remember is to Go Slow... transition your dog into the new home. Before you bring your pet to your new home, check out the interior, exterior, and the property/land the house sits on. Make sure there are no hazards for you or your pets - look for things that could harm or stress you or your dog, such as poisons, chemicals, or objects that could cause injury. Once the home is safe, introduce your pet to a small area of the home and then slowly allow them access to the rest of the house. For example, close all the doors to spare rooms, basements, bedrooms, laundry rooms, etc. and over the next couple of weeks, let your dog have access to each area of the house. Many of you out there might have cats... I have found letting them have access to only ONE room at a time is best, starting with where their litter box and food are located, then slowly allowing them access to the rest of the home. The same holds true with dog owners, however with dogs you may have to be letting outside to go to the bathroom. When you let them outside, keep them leashed, not only will it allow them to explore the new yard or grounds at a controlled and slower pace, it also allows you to do the same - many things can cause disruptions to the move in the outside environment such as; holes under fences, possible chemical or hazards in the new yard, and possibly even other wildlife like raccoons, birds, wild/untamed animals, as well as other neighboring cats and dogs that are not leashed or contained. It's so important to supervise your pet in the beginning, it just makes everyone's life easier and less stressful.

Enjoy life... and I hope these tips and ideas help you and your dog or any pet have a smooth transition to your new home.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

There's never been a better time to buy some of the most fun and cute dog apparel for your pet. Whirly Dog Supplies has a large selection of dog pajamas and dog sweaters, coats, and jackets perfect for cool spring and summer evenings or chilly mornings.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

It's a story about a Pitbull who was chained up and neglected, named Mickey, in South Phoenix AZ that mauled a child who took the dog's bone away from him.

Here is my thoughts, right or wrong (and I am sticking to my opinion for every dog attack on children):

Parents / Babysitter of the child and the parents of the dog are All at fault.

I think the majority of the fault lies with the child's parents and or the babysitter at the time - what the "H" "E" double tooth picks, are you doing not paying attention to the child? The little guy is only 4 years old! WAKE UP - there are 4.5 MILLION reports of dog bites per year in the United States. I get so sick of hearing all these people wining and complaining about "oh my poor baby boy/girl..." - no, you dumb a$$, if you love your kid, or you are a responsible adult (speaking to the babysitter at the time), you don't take your eye off of kid for a single second, EVER, until they are 18 years old. The 4 year old child needs to be taken away from you and You should be neutered! You are idiots and shouldn't be caring for a child if you can't take care of them. (human's are the only animals in the world that care more about themselves then they do their own babies, a dog would never let it's puppy stray away and get in harm's way!)Dog's Parents - I hope the judge puts a chain around your neck and sticks you outside in the hot sun, cold rain, freezing snow, and then teases you with all the wonders of the world going by, while you are not paid any attention to, or thrown a bone once in a while. Then when you get violent and aggressive, I hope they throw you into a cage and threaten you with the death sentence.

I'm sorry, but I am so sick of all the STUPID PEOPLE in the world!!! Some people shouldn't be parents and some shouldn't be dog owners!

Much love to the dog, and Whirly Dog Supplies is wishing the best and hoping for a happy and LOVING forever home for poor little Mickey, the pitbull!

My message to the dog... "remember, there is someone out there that will love you, there is someone that won't neglect you or stick you on a chain leaving you alone for long periods of the day/night. There Is someone that will want You to spend every minute of the day with them, someone that will make you part of their family, someone that will love you just as you love them!"

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

My partner adopted an adorable little senior Maltese dog named Whirly from the Oregon Humane Society in March 2011, after I became disabled. I had developed many physical problems due to health issues, causing me to be home-bound most of the time. Whirly was to soon become my best friend and keep me company while at home. This sweet little dog would not only provide me with companionship, but he brought joy and love into my life, that in turn inspired me to design and create dog apparel and pet clothes. I now have a dog clothing business online selling dog clothing as well as other dog toys and supplies at Whirly Dog Supplies - www.whirlydogsupplies.com .

Whirly was rescued from a person on the Oregon Coast along with dozens of other dogs, Maltese and King Charles Spaniels. The dogs where originally used as breeding dogs in a puppy-mill and then became pets, sadly the owner couldn't care properly for them. After Whirly's rescue, the shelter had to shave his matted and stained hair, they had to remove all but three teeth that were abscessed, and care for other skin infections, and health issues. We were told that someone had adopted him but brought him back to the shelter after only 3 months. Unfortunately, they couldn't care for him due to his health issues and all of the work needed for the type of breed. Whirly was so docile and shy, his spirit had been broken. He had never knew true love from a human, he had been neglected and mistreated, and then after being adopted and taken to his potential "forever home" he was returned to the Humane Society just to be locked in a cage again. I believe he had lost all hope of finding someone to love him. One day we saw him online and quickly went down to the shelter to take a look at him. When we saw him in his cage he was shivering and scared, he looked at us as if to say, "please help me". There was another couple there looking at him at the same time, I told my partner to hurry and go tell the front desk that we want to adopt him before the other couple get him. I knew the moment Whirly and I looked at each other, he was the dog for me! It didn't take him long after being in our home to blossom into a wonderful little man. After about a year his little personality started shining through and now 3 years later, he is a loving, playful, and happy little part of our family.

Because the shelter had to shave off his hair, Whirly was cold most of the time. Maltese don't have an under-coat, so they get cold very easily and are prone to sunburn. Every time I would take whirly outside for a walk or to go to the bathroom and the temperature was below 50 degrees, he would shiver almost uncontrollably and want to cuddle into me for warmth. I went to various pet stores and purchased a variety of dog clothes; shirts, jackets, wraps, etc. but none of them fit him properly. Whirly was small but the sizes listed for small dogs didn't quite fit and the mediums were way too big, he was between sizes. I also noticed that the dog clothing was made of very low quality fabrics and were difficult to put on and take off. They didn't fit my needs. Whirly was trained to go potty outside, often upon returning from taking him for a short walk I needed to bring him in and take off his clothes quickly. With my disability I needed clothes that were fast and easy to put on and (most importantly) take off. I thought to myself, manufacturers should make pet clothes and dog apparel easy to use as many dogs are companions to people with disabilities and many elderly people own small breed dogs. To solve these issues, I decided to buy a sewing machine and I watched countless hours of YouTube videos, I spent days and months reading and learning to sew, and I became friends with a couple of seamstresses and a sewing teacher at our local fabric store that helped teach me. Being able to make dog clothing, not only helped Whirly out by keeping him warm and happy in comfy but it also gave me something to do while I am at home with a lot of time on my hands.

I studied the design of the pet clothes that I purchased and adjusted them for a better fit. Furthermore, they needed to be easy to use, I chose stretch knit fabrics for easy pull-over dog shirts and dresses and Velcro neck and chest closures for coats and jackets making the dog apparel super easy to put on and take off. Finally, I wanted quality and stylish or fun prints, so I chose great fabrics that everyone loves to create the garments. Furthermore, the great thing about making the dog clothes, was that I was using much better quality fabrics and notions then the clothes in big box stores are made of, as discussed in Dog Shirts, Made the Correct Way.

One day I was taking Whirly out for a short walk and a neighbor noticed the dog hoodie I had made and thought he looked so cute. She suggested I make more of the dog jackets and sell them as a hobby, she said "it is so cute, I am sure they would sell". She sells jewelry on Etsy, TwistedNW, I took her advice and I opened an Etsy Shop as well as an eBay Store. Later, after I started making a few sales, I created Whirly Dog Supplies and opened my own online store at www.whirlydogsupplies.com

I am so grateful to my loving partner for adopting this sweet little dog and to the Oregon Humane Society for rescuing him from a horrible life. He has inspired me and brought so much love to my life. I am truly blessed.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Here at Whirly Dog Supplies, we are always striving to bring our customers the best products at the best value. We keep your pet in mind and design products that are not only stylish but comfortable for your pet to wear. Dog Pajamas have become one of our customer's favorites. Over the past few years we have modified the typical patterns and design to give the best fit for your dog.

When your dog wears our pajamas, they should be comfortable and look great in them. We love to entertain and have friends or family over for a dinner parties or an early morning coffee or tea gatherings. Having your dog nearby wearing a pair of pajamas is so much fun for everyone. Your guests will fall in love with the way your pet looks and your pet will love the attention he or she gets when they cuddle in your lap or next to your feet in our soft and comfy onesies.

Here is what we have learned in re-designing the standard dog pajamas patterns.

Standard or Store Bought

Whirly Dog Supplies Pajamas

Length of legs are too long, when your dog is wearing them they end up pulling their feet out and end up getting tangled up in the garment.

We have shortened the legs by half. This prevents the dog's feet from slipping through and provides better movement for the dog when walking or going to the bathroom.

Stretch cuffs are on the neck, ankles, and the underside of the dog pajamas.

We have eliminated the fabric cuff on the underside of the garment. We found that it pulls down around the tail causing the dog not to want to go to the bathroom and it is uncomfortable for them to walk, run, and play while wearing them.

Inexpensive, low quality fabrics.

Whirly Dog Supplies, hand picks 100% cotton flannels, super soft jerseys, and other fabrics that will provide, not only the best look, but also be Super comfortable for your pet to wear.

Your dog's comfort is so important. Having quality dog apparel and pet clothes is the key to your pet's happiness. Take a look at what we have to offer and you will see that Whirly Dog Supplies is the best option. The price is right and you can be confident you are getting a product everyone (including your dog) will love!

Sunday, March 30, 2014

We recently had to change our dog food because it was no longer available. The manufacturer stopped making it. Our dog, Whirly, is a 12 year old Maltese and we are concerned with his dietary requirements. I wanted to give you a few tips on how to change food with as few as possible problems.

Things to consider is; type of food you are currently feeding your pet, ingredients, and your pet's needs.

Finally, when you do find the food you want to transition your pet to, do it gradually. To prevent stomach upset or an adverse reaction, gradually add the new food to the old food so your dog can become acclimated easily over several days.

What type of food do you feed your dog?I highly recommend researching brands, quality, and what ingredients your dog food has and then consider the food you are transitioning to. If you currently feed your dog an inexpensive grocery store brand, think about changing to a more expensive specialty food. You will use less, your dog will feel and look better, and you will have peace of mind that your pet will be getting quality ingredients without fillers or by-products.

Ingredients.What is the age of your dog? Activity level? Any allergies or special diet needs?Many inexpensive dog foods are filled with by-products, fillers, or poor quality ingredients that can cause health problems for your dog. Even if your dog doesn't have any special requirements, it is still a good idea to go with dog food that has holistic, all natural ingredients. For example: deboned chicken (rather then chicken byproduct), rice or potato flour, wild salmon or fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, etc.

Does your dog have special needs? Understand that puppies have different dietary needs then adults or seniors. Read the Nutrition Fact Box on the label and choose the proper amount of proteins, fat, and other nutrients needed for your dog.

Your dog is part of the family. Feed them like you would any member of the family you love. Their health and happiness is so important and choosing the right food is vitally important.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

I have struggled over the past few years, since adopting our little Maltese dog, to get pet clothes and dog apparel that is good quality and fits correctly.

I have listed a dog t-shirt with a cute fire engine and dalmatian print on jersey knit fabric. (as seen in picture)

I purchased several dog shirts from various "Big Box Stores" such as Walmart, Petco, Petsmart, Target, and a few others. We sat and took them apart and really studied how they were made. Here is what we found:

Thin, poor quality fabrics.

Not all seams were properly sewn together.

The pattern wasn't cut correctly and areas in the seams had been folded over and then sewn together, adding several weak layers of fabric.

Sizes where smaller then they type of dog they were supposed to fit.

Fabric was not preshrunk, after washing as suggested by the manufacturer the garment decreased in size significantly.

What does all these mean to you, the pet owner who's looking for a quality dog shirt and spending $10-20 of your hard earned money?
Answer - You will get something that's not going to last and will fall apart after a few washings, or even a few times of your dog wearing the pet clothes.

I spent some time really studying how these dog clothes were manufactured. And I looked at the dog apparel and pet clothing patterns I had, as well as reviewing my own designs. The end result was a re-designed quality dog shirt, that will fit your dog better, uses quality designer fabrics, and are made to last keeping sharp attention to every detail.

Now, when you purchase dog apparel and pet clothes from Whirly Dog Supplies, you can have the confidence that you are buying a product that is of the highest quality, attention to detail makes the workmanship better then the rest, will fit your dog properly, and is designed to last!